Chain Ring Cowboy

Everyone knows if it hasn’t rained in a long time, the streets get a dusty but oily film layered on top of the gravel and asphalt. When the rain first comes especially the light drizzly type, that’s when the streets are at its slickest of all. Everyone knows that don’t they? Taking care on one of the fast turns on my daily route, the new supposedly “extra traction” tires did well. Being careful not to get caught in the ultra fast trip down to the street presented no problem. The next turn which is fun to take fast also with a lean that even Levi would appreciate was throttled down to about half. No problem there. Third turn, thinking all things were safe to go fast, lean hard, and pedal on without diligence in safety go me. The trap was set; I was going down and going down hard. Its’ that moment in time that only lasts a second, but can run it through my mind like the third act in a boring production. Getting up was difficult; watching the trusted green steed laying down the blackened ...

The City of El Paso Streets Department along with along with a consulting firm are to begin installing 23.5 miles of bike lanes in the near future. There already are some lanes, but the additional lanes will be great for the city. I went to a public awareness in my district last night, met the city rep and a very vocal nay Sayer. Over all it was a good meeting, but not enough people were there. Have you heard about the Bike Box Turning accommodation for bikes at intersections? Check it out on the link. I've heard that Austin, NYC, and Portland are using them. Well, lil-ole El Paso is getting at least one of them too. That is if someone doesn't shut it down. And check this out

Lance is trying out his new Trek, with special design. I think he is going to ride this in the Tour De France. He seems to like it. Have you ever noticed that when a group of weekend riders get together, maybe do a 50 miler, a century, or even more, or even less; that they ride up on the brake bonnets the majority of the time? Maybe you are one of them, I know I am. When I ride in events or socially on the weekends and when commuting to work, there I am, hands high on the handlebar..... Well that's the way it was until I went to watch the Tour de Gila a few weeks ago. After observing the big pros in person, it finally hit me that these guys live down low in the drops. So now guess what I'm doing? Yep. It's for real. During my commute to work this week, I got a feel of what it was like to spend that much time down there. Whenever I needed to come out of the saddle and power up a hill, or get across an intersection lickity-split, it felt very good, better than I thought it wo...

It looks like Lance Armstrong's bike has a more or less horizontal stem. Mine is turned down a little more than horizontal, I wonder if my pride will allow me to turn it up? Like the way it was when I first got the bike. I don't think that not being so upright is hurting me, but I did take my rode bike out a few weeks ago and hammered out a 60 miler. The day after I had some pain in the back of my right knee. The soreness has diminished with only slight discomfort. My theory is that since I have been riding my touring bike exclusively for at least six months, my legs were not able to deal with the difference in range of motion, even if ever so slight. Today I made some adjustments to make the fit on each bike as close as possible to each other. Tomorrow I will test this theory out as I am going out for a nice spin with KF.

The day before I went to the people hospital, I put my numero uno in the bicycle hospital. I was told by my doctor, more especially by my wife that I WOULD definitely not be riding a bicycle for two weeks. I figured I could sneak in a spin or two in about a week, instead I decided to abide after losing to a stare down. So my time is up and I am ready to ride. Suffice it say, itching, burning, and yearning to ride. When I went to the bicycle hospital to check out the green machine, it wasn’t ready. Sadly, it is going to be in for another day. That means today I can go by there, climb on and resume the moving partnership I’ve had with this worthy steed for almost exactly three years now. Nope this isn't really my Touring bike collapsed from over running it, but I would like to think I am capable of doing that. I stole this picture from a site " Crazy Guy On A Bike ". He rides the same bike I do. Check out his site sometime. It's way cool if you like bicycling stuff.

Today, starting at 4:30AM I rode in one of those big garbage trucks. You know, the type that come by your house with an arm and grabber that picks up your big plastic can, hoists it in the air to pour out the contents into the big container that can then crush anything it wants to? I gathered statistics today, like how many people forget to leave their can out on time, and how many people have two containers, or three or four. yes four big cans some people have. Trash generators they are. First trip goes to the land fill, second trip goes to the recycle center, and that's the part I like. My dad was an early recycle person you know. Those big ole trucks use a lot of fossil juice to do their job, but I suppose it is necessary. Too bad we can't do it en masse on bicycles.

After seeing all the racers in Silver City New Mexico Saturday, my already vibrant passion for bicycling has been boosted at least one more notch. My mandatory two weeks layoff from cycling due to an umbilical hernia surgery is going to end in two more long days. Of course my commuting will resume, but I am firming up a personal resolve to do more work towards getting faster, stronger, leaner, and having more stamina. By the time the tour de Gila comes round again, I would like to be in it. I don't necessarily think I will be ready to bring home the trophy in my age group, but making a respectable showing is good enough for me. Now that Lance and all the big boys are in Rome getting ready for the Tour de Italia, maybe there will be some decent news coverage. I heard somewhere that Germany is going to give some TV coverage. Keep your fingers crossed

Tour de Gila in Silver City, New Mexico Johan Bruyneel is staning on the door step of Lance's Motor Home, while lance pleases the crowd by signing autographs. this all took place about 20 minutes before the 40+ mile criterion races started in Silver City New Mexico this past Saturday. I heard that Johan coached his unofficial "Mellow Johnny" team to be especially cautious for crashes. It was some good advice because there were some really gnarly spills on this up and down, windy course through downtown. "> Video Our spectator view was just past the last corner into the final strait away toward the finish line. It can't be seen that the street before the turn was a steep downhill. See the flags blowing horizontally? The wind added speed to the down hill, these riders were making the corner at about 50 mph. Most of the photos I took were blurry and I even had it set to fast sports. Those riders were hauling. I have this idea that Lance was experimenting in this ...